Clamp



June 17, 1930. J. w. KEFFER f1,765,235

CLAMP Filed Oct. 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet ly INVE z'sATToRNEY June 17, 1930. J. w. KEFFER I 1,765,1235

' Y l CLAMP Filed Oct. 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR '%.'5A1TORNEY Patented June 1-7, k193,0

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JOSEPH w'. Kennemer onroneo, 'rrinriiois CLAMP p Application mee october 2e, 1927'.l seriai No. 228,806'.

This invention relates 'to' a clamp for con-l Y creteforms, of the general type shown in my prior Patent No. 1,590,083,"dated June 22, 1926, and is in the nature of an improvement on my said patent.

The principal object of the invention is to provide generally improved and more erlicient bearing bl-ocksffor use at the lcrossing pointof two clamping members to holdthese members together and'to exert they necessary force on them in order totighten the clamp and retain it in tightened position. i

It is another objectof the invention to 'design these bearing blocks so that either side of one block may lbe brought rinto contact with the appropriate bearing surfaceof another block7 thus permitting the clamping members to be applied equally eil'eotivelyupside kdown as vright side up, and eliminating thedelays heretofore incident toreversing clamping*membersfwhich had been applied hastily in the wrong position A Vfurther lobject of the invention is to shape the bearing blocks in such a way that either one of theclamping members, where they cross each other, may be placed on top of the other, it'thus being' unnecessary to see that av given one of the members is'always. placed uppermost, as heretofore.

Vith these andother ends'in view, the invention comprises the structure and combination of parts which will appear more clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed outk in the claims following the description.

In the drawings: p

Figure lis a horizontal ysection through-a form for a concrete column'with a clamp applied thereto, showing one possible embodiment of the invention in plan;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken approx# imately along the line 3-43 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a plan of one possible embodiment of a bearing block;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of. the same; Figure 'is an end elevation of the same, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of thesame'. ln Figure l of the drawings, 'therelis il# liistrated a conventional form forarectangular `concrete column, this form vconsisting of planks' or other v'suitable members V'comf when the concrete has set, the clamps may be removed for usek elsewhere, and the walls'of l'the form may'likewise be taken down, to be reassembled into a--forrn for another column.

'lhe clamp here shown ycomprises two pairs- Y of members, the two members of leachl pair being pivot-ally connected to each other. As

is illustrated in Figure 1, the two members 12 and '13, extending along two sides of the form,

c are pivoted at 14.- to each other',-aiid themembers 15 and 1G, constituting the other pair and yextending along the other two sides of the form,'are similarly pivoted at 17.A It is `seen from Figure lthat one member of each pair ycrosses one of the members of the other pair. Clamping members pivoted to each other as described above areV well known and widely used, being shown, for instance, inpmy prior patent above identified. l

Slidablymounted on each ofthe clamping members 12, 13, 15 and 16 is what may be termed a bearing block, these blocks all being titans prising'vthe four walls l1'. In order to holdV similar to each other and being designated respectiyely by the numerals 148., 19V, 2O and 21,

in Figure 1v. rlhe cooperation between suitable bearing'surfaces on,V two adjacentbearing blocks serves to retain the clamping members in their tightened position, and movement of the blocks alongV the clamping members, in the manner' described below, results in tightening the clamp,V These bearing blocks-18, 19, 2O and 21 correspond in a general `way to the blocks 28 shownin my said ipriorpatent, but are greatly improvedv over those shown in the patent, and the use of these new blocks results in a ymuch more efficient bearing blocks relative to the clamping, memland flexible cla-mp than any Vheretofore known.

The detailed construction of'each of the bearing blocks may be best understood from reference to Figures 3 to`7inclusive, from which it is seen that each block has a top Vwall 25,V bottom wall 26, and sidewalls 27 and 28, so connected as to leave a rectangular passageway, open at both ends, through the block. This passageway is of such a size that the blocks may slide easily along the 'clamping members, such as 12 and 13, one block being mounted-'fon eachof the clamping members, as shown in Figure 1. y p

Slots 30 are formed through the top and bottom walls and 26 of the bearing blocks, I and 4slots 31 through the clamping members l12, 13,15 and 16. Wedges 32 may be inserted throughthese slots,.as shown particularly in Figure 3, and may thusV be Vused to move the bers. The spacing of the slots 31 in the memf` bers is somewhat different than the spacing of the slots in the blocks, so that there will always be one slot in the clamping member alined with a slot in the block, thus allowing a wedge to be inserted through the slots no matter in what position the block may be on the clamping member. l

At one end of thepassageway through the bearing block, wing walls 40 andV 41 are formed, extending obliquely outwardly and rearwardly from two opposite edges of the passageway, as shown especially in Figures 4 and 7. These wing walls form bearing sur= faces, either one of which is adapted to cooperate with one of the wing walls on the second bearing block, mounted on the clamping` member which crosses Vthe member on which the first block is` mounted. 'lt is the coaction of the bearing surfaces on the ,two

blocks, when the blocks are movedalong the clamping members by theV action ofthe wedges, that tightens the clamp and holds it in proper position. It will be readily appaient from an inspection of Figure 1 that as either of the blocks ispmoved forward, the reaction between the two bearing surfacesv will'produce, in each of they blocks, a force component tending to draw the clamping member lengthwise, and anotherV component tending to move the clamping member sidewise against the sides of the form. Thus the clamp is tightened` andis held tight as long as the wedges remain in place. To loosen the clamp Vfor removal, it is necessary only to take out the wedges and slide the bearing blocks back. in a direction away from the corners of the form. I

Heretofore, the bearing blocks have been made with only one bearing surface on. each block. yThis has made itnecessary kto vexer-v cisegreat care in applying the clamping members to the form, because they would cooperate with each other only in one relativeA position, and could not be reversed. It Vhas been found that in the hurry and rush incif dent to actual. use7 the clamping i'nembersV one side up, one of the two oblique surfacesV on its block will cooperate with surfaces on the otherbloclr, and if it be turned'the other side up, the other oblique surface will serve just as effectively in accomplishing' theder sired purpose. i

rlhis reversibility ofthe clamping mem- A bers and bearing blocksis illustrated in Figure 1, where it is seen that the members 12 and 13 and the blocks 18 and 19 are one side up,

while the other members 15 and 16,and their blocks 2() and 21, are the other side up.

To hol lr the two pairs of clamping membei-s in contact with each' other where they' cross, so that they will not become sepa-rated vertically, various means may be employed..

.ln the embodiment Ahere shown, one end of the passageway in `each block has walls 45 extending outwardly from the two ropposite y dges thereof Vfrom which the wing walls 40 and 41 do not extend. These walls 45 lie in. a planersubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal ai of the passageway and each -wall extends away from the edge of thepas- Vsageway for a distance approximatelyv equal -ess of the passageway, and terf initiates in a supporting lug 4G which pro-` jects forwardly from the walls 45, as shown particularly in Figures 35 land 7. f

.Frein the statements above made, it willbe t r)parent'that the dist-ance from one of the 46 to the other will be approximately 'ee times the thickness of the passageway th ough the bearing block.

vilhen two of the clamping members cross each other, one member is received inthe space between the other member and one of the supporting lugs 46 of the bearing block mounted .on this othermember. This is illustrated particularly in Figure 3, where itis seen that one of the clamping memberssuch as 15 crosses below the other member such as .13 and fits inthe space between the bottomk Y surface of the other member 13 and the top surface of the lower Vlug 46 on the bearing..

block which is mounted on 13. This lug 46 therefore serves to support the clamping member 15 and holds the two members 13 andrl from becoming separated vertically.v

At the same time, the upper vsupporting lug 46 on the other bearing block mounted on the member 15 will voverlie the clamping me1nber13 so that it also will preventfvertical separation of the two members.

' one space was provided for receiving the clamping members always in one position, so y crossed member in the 'bearing block, and therefore for this reason also, as well as on account ofthe provision of only one bearing surface, it was necessary to apply the that they were.non-reversible.l jIn the cionstruction here shown, however, the two supporting lugs 46 are provided one above and one below the clamping member, so that the other clamping member may be received either above or below the first member, and this makes a device reversible.

The operation of this clamping mechanism l may' be briefly described as follows. `After the boards constituting` the sides of the concrete column form are set in place, two pairs of clamping' members are placed against the sides of the form, with the pivoted corners of the clamping members at opposite corners 0f the form, as shown in AFigure l. Due to the reversible construction of the bearing blocks mounted on these clamping members, either of the pairs of clamping members may be turned either side up, and it is wholly unnecessary for the workmen to take time in determining` which side must be placed uppermost. The clampingy members are then held in a position such indicated in Figure l., and the bearing blocks are slid along they clamping members until the two bearingsurfaces come' into contact with each other. The wedges are then insertedr through proper slots in the bearing blocks and' clamping members and by driving 'thewedgea the clamp may be tightened to any desired degrec. Any of the clamping members may be crossed either above or below the other clamp'- ing member which'crosses it, since space is provided in each bearing block for receiving the crossed member either between the top supporting` lug i6 and the top surface of the member' on which the bearing block is mount-v ed, or between the bottom supporting lug flo and the bottom surface of the member.

It should be understood that clampsof this type are portable articles, carried fromfpoint to point on one construction job, and from one job to another. In the frequent handlingto which these articles are subjected, the small parts, such as the wedges and bearing blocks, are apt to become lost, thus causing considerable inconvenience and waste of time.k To obviate this, the clamping` members,"bearing,` blocks, and wedges are preferablyT secured to each other in such a way that they can not become separated. In the embodiment here shown, stop members such as 3 5 may be placed near the ends of the clamp ingr members solas to prevent the bearing blocks from being removedy from the members. rIhe wedges 82 may be attached to the bearing blocks by means of flexible members inventive idea may be carried out in a number of wa This aniiication is therefore I l i not to be limited to tne precise details shown, but is intended Vto cover all modifications thereof. falling within the Vspirit of the 1nvention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim vI, A clamp comprising, in combination, aA

plurality of clamping members, 'adapted to cross each otherand a' bearing block slidably mounted on each of said clampingl members, each of said bearing,` blocks having` oblique bearing surfaces on opposite sides thereof,

either of said surfacesV being adapted tocoperate with a. bearingl surface on a block on the other clamping member so as `to hold said clamping1 bars in clamping,` position. y

2. A clamp comprising, in combination, a

plurality. of clamping members, adapted to cross each other, and bearing block slidably mounted on each of said clampingl members, each of said bearing blocks having a lug` spaced above the clamping member on which said bearing block is mounted and aA second lun' spaced below said clampingmember, so

that the clamping member which. crosses said member on which the block is mounted may be received in the space between the lug and the member either above or below the latter.

vA ciamp comprising, in coiiibin'ation, a plurality of clamping men'ibeis, adapted to cross each other, and a bearing` block slidably mourned` on each of said clamping members, each of said bearing blocks having oblique *bearing surfaces on opposite sides thereof,

either of said surfaces being adapted to cooperate with a bearing surface on a blocken the other clamping' member sowas tohold said clamping bars in clamping position, and each of said. bearing blocks also having a lug spaced above the clamping member on'which said bearing,` block is mounted and a secondV lug; spaced below said clamping member, so that the clamping member which crosses said member on which the block is mounted may be received in the space between the lug and the member either above or below the latter.

4. A clampv comprising, in combination, two members crossingl each other at an angle, and a bearing` block slidably mounted on each of said members, a bearing surface on each of said bearing blocks adapted to cooperate with a bearing surface on the other block, and a plurality of supporting,` lugs on each of said bearing;- blocks, one of said supporting lugs on a bearing block mounted on one of said twol members being adapted to Qverlie the second member when said second, member crosses above said first member, and another of said lugs being adapted to underlie said e Sagewey, and iei'wai'dly extending inge it the my 11eme.

4 Y Y 1,765,235 Y ee'cend membei when Seid eeeoml member' mf'oeeee below seid 'iirst' meniibei.

5. v 'Clamp eempriei'ng, 'in amminetim, iwf) membei'e Cioeeine; each Othei" :it an angle, and a bem-ing bleek sidaby molmed en @eeh of seid members, a bearing Surface en each 0i seid bearing blocks adapted a0 Cooperate with means en each bied; eiming e channel' beth above and below the member ein which t1 bleek is mounted either oise-id channels being; cepebie of Vreceiving he ether of said two eiiossed members. Y

65A bearing bleelefe use in e clamping mechanism, seid bieek eempising, eem-V bineion, Weils foi-ming a passageway of eetenguaf cross Section', and en ebiqu'e *vangeV attached to each 'o awe opposite Wells of Said passageway so es te ferm beeimg surfacesrat ep neximatelv e5@ to the axis of seid meseeef i, Y Y i e Way.'

'7. A rbeamg bleek ier use m a Clamping mechanism, seid bied; eomp'iemg, m' @elm bin ation, Wells fer-ming a passageway 0fiee4 tangular @roes section, md lugs eteehed e @eeh el" two oppeete ways of said passageway at one end heeof and offset from the' sides of Said passageway a disence eppreximeely yequal to the El leknees of said pieeegeway, so *uhateed luce form between them e channel having); a thickness epprezimetely three times hat of said passageway. v

Y 8.A beefingbloek for use. inY :L Clamping mechanism, Seid bieckCompisingg7- in 00mb'majejnywels 'femi'egj n. peesagewey of 1feC- tangulmi e1 senti/imi epee :it beth emile, wing; Welle' extending euimmdly from iwf.) epgeeiue skies e" sai pnefsagewey et one tbeieef se as te foi-1u oblique bem'i M outer edges of each of seid' zieiai Weile'.

En Winees wheiee'f, have lieieunto signed ne f Surfaces, Walle Y 

